7 areas to monitor to improve transition cow health
© Tim Scrivener About 90% of dairy cows needing veterinary treatment for ill health are within the transition period. This is a term used to describe the three weeks preceding calving to the three weeks following calving.
This is a term used to describe the three weeks preceding calving to the three weeks following calving.
A catalogue of changes happens to cows during the transition period, they go from non-lactating animals with a small increase in energy demands due to their growing and developing calf to having to give birth (an inherently stressful and painful process) and immediately start to produce large quantities of milk which increases their metabolic demand almost fourfold.
See also:Â Tips for improving cow immunity for transition success
George GilesWestpoint Farm Vets St Columb, Cornwall
Unfortunately, about 30-50% of all dairy cows that calve will experience one or more metabolic or infectious diseases during this period according to the study Managing critical periods—transition dairy cows.
Traditionally vets and advisers would become involved once things start going wrong such as fertility problems. But, even if the root cause is identified immediately, we know that often the problem started very early on during the cow’s transition period.
But, even if the root cause is identified immediately, we know that often the problem started very early on during the cow’s transition period.
Therefore, it’s really important farmers do more routine monitoring of specific cohorts of cows to ensure that any future problems are picked up and altered at the earliest possible stage.
There are seven key parameters that should be monitored regularly during the transition period to avoid problem cows post-calving.Â
Seven key dry cow parameters to monitor |
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Test/scoring system |
Cohort of cows needed |
Frequency |
Interpretation |
|
Body condition score (BCS) |
Dry cows to peak yielders |
Monthly |
Look at mean BCS change over this period. Examine the number of outlying cows that lost great than one BCS. This relates to transition success |
|
Non-esterified fatty acids (blood test) |
Dry cows seven to 14 days pre-calving |
Depends on herd size, often monthly |
Assess body fat mobilisation in the late dry period which we want to minimise. |
|
Beta hydroxybutyrate testing |
Freshly calved cows seven to 14 days post-partum |
Six cows per week (also herd size dependent) |
This will assess levels of secondary subclinical ketosis within the herd, for example, something has caused the cow/s to have an unacceptably large degree of negative energy balance around calving. |
|
Dry matter intake (DMI) of dry cows |
In particular, close up dry cows |
Daily |
Subtle changes in DMI in this group are often significant and should warrant further investigation. Weigh and record what feed is put in front of this group and weigh the waste taken away. |
|
Stocking density |
All cows in the dry pen |
As new cows are introduced |
1sq m/1,000 litre milk production per lactation. For example, an 8,000-litre cow should have 8sq m whereas a 12,000-litre cow should have 12sq m of loose housing space. |
|
Feed trough space |
All cows in the dry pen |
As new cows are introduced |
At least 60cm a cow, ideally 90cm |
|
Water trough space |
All cows in the dry pen |
As new cows are introduced |
At least 10cm a cow |
If we can reduce the number of problem cows post-calving we have less disease within the herd to treat, which in turn results in faster resumption to cyclicity and ultimately better fertility with fewer cows having extended lactations.